The Metamorphosis Of The International Space Station

The U.S.-built Unity connecting module and the Russian-built Zarya module in December of 1998.

June 3, 1999

(Source: NASA)

A STS-96 crew member aboard Discovery recorded this image of the International Space Station (ISS).

September 18, 2000

(Source: NASA)

Backdropped against Earth's horizon, the International Space Station (ISS) is seen following its undocking with the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

December 9, 2000

(Source: NASA)

This represents the first imagery of the entire station with its new solar array panels deployed. (Source: NASA)

December 15, 2001

(Source: NASA)

As seen in an overall view from a digital still camera aimed through a window on Endeavour's aft flight deck.

August 6, 2005

(Source: NASA)

This full view of the International Space Station was photographed by a crewmember onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery following the undocking of the two spacecraft. Discovery pulled away from the complex on August 6, 2005.

June 19, 2007

The International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station.
(Source: NASA)

The International Space Station moves away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Earlier the STS-117 and Expedition 15 crews concluded about eight days of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station.

February 18, 2008

(Source: NASA)

Backdropped by a cloud-covered part of Earth, the International Space Station is seen from Space Shuttle Atlantis as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation.

March 7, 2011

(Source: NASA) The International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-133 crew member on space shuttle Discovery.

The International Space Station is featured in this image photographed by an STS-133 crew member on space shuttle Discovery after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation.

Canadarm2

(Source: NASA)

stronaut Scott E. Parazynski, mission specialist, works with cables associated with the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) or Canadarm2 during a mission in April of 2001. (Source: NASA)

S0 Truss

(Source: NASA)

The S0 truss is a football field-sized structure that was attached to the US Lab, "Destiny".

Astronauts Pose With Node 2

(Source: NASA)

The International Space Station Node 2 module in a processing facility in June of 2001. The installment of Node 2 to the station signified the U.S. Core Complete stage of assembly, at which time the station could support the addition of international laboratories from Europe and Japan.

Node 2

(Source: NASA)

The International Space Station Node 2 module in a processing facility in June of 2001. The installment of Node 2 to the station signified the U.S. Core Complete stage of assembly, at which time the station could support the addition of international laboratories from Europe and Japan.

Kibo Japanese Experiment Module

(Source: NASA)

The Kibo Japanese Experiment Module's (JEM) Pressurized Module, a science laboratory bound for the International Space Station, was lowered into a shipping crate on April 16, 2003, in preparation for shipment to the Kennedy Space Center where it was prepared for launch aboard the Space Shuttle.

Pirs

(Source: NASA)

The Russian Docking Compartment, named Pirs, the Russian word for pier.

The International Space Station (ISS) is seen from NASA space shuttle Endeavour after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation May 29, 2011 in space. After 20 years, 25 missions and more than 115 million miles in space, NASA space shuttle Endeavour was on the last leg of its final flight to the International Space Station before being retired.

The International Space Station (ISS) is seen from NASA space shuttle Endeavour after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation May 29, 2011 in space. After 20 years, 25 missions and more than 115 million miles in space, NASA space shuttle Endeavour was on the last leg of its final flight to the International Space Station before being retired.

The next crew members of the Internation

(Source: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images)

The newest crew members of the International Space Station (ISS) US astronaut Michael Fossum (L), Russian cosmonaut Sergey Volkov (C) and Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa (R) posed on May 13, 2011 before their final preflight practical exam in a training model of the Russia-built Soyuz TMA spacecraft at the Space Training Center in Star City outside Moscow.

Space Shuttle Discovery Continues On Its Last Mission

(Source: NASA)

The International Space Station seen from the space shuttle Discovery as the two orbital spacecraft accomplish their relative separation after an aggregate of 12 astronauts and cosmonauts worked together for over a week during flight day 12 activities March 7, 2011 in Space.

The International Space Station crew

(Source: SERGEI REMEZOV/AFP/Getty Images)

The International Space Station crew, Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin (C) with US astronauts Doug Wheelock (L) and Shannon Walker, sit inside the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft's capsule after landing near the town of Arkalyk in northern Kazakhstan on November 26, 2010. The three returned from six months onboard the ISS where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews.

Hurricane Earl Heads Toward U.S. Coast

(Source: Douglas H. Wheelock/NASA via Getty Images)

Hurricane Earl, seen from the International Space Station, moves on August 30, 2010 in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceStation

(Source: NASA)

The U.S. Laboratory module for the International Space Station is shown under construction in the fall of 1997 at the Marshall Space Flight Center station manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Al. The lab module was launched to the station on Space Shuttle mission STS-98 in May 1999.